Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Yusuf Grillo became a central figure in the country's mid-20th-century art scene. He was a founding member and president of the Society of Nigerian Artists and served as the Director of the School of Art at Yaba College of Technology for over a decade, significantly influencing generations of Nigerian artists.

Grillo's practice was characterized by a signature aesthetic that frequently utilized shades of blue to depict figures and scenes with a stylized, elongated grace. His work spanned painting, sculpture, and muralism, often blending traditional Nigerian motifs with modern formal techniques.

His legacy remains a cornerstone of Nigerian modernism, with his contributions recently highlighted in the context of major international surveys. His work is slated for inclusion in the upcoming exhibition of Nigerian modernism at the Tate Modern, which examines the evolution of the country's artistic production from the 1940s through the 1990s.